March 4, 2014

International Women's Day at the WAG l Share Our Strength Winnipeg l Fundraiser for Panzi Hospital in Congo

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

Come celebrate International Women's Day on March 8
with FREE admission to the Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Blvd!
also…
Self Defense for Women
March 17 from 7 pm to 9 pm

Basic techniques conducted by Sensei Viet Doan, Head Instructor of Minh-Duc Jiu-Jitsu.
Free! To register call 204–789–1290 or email 

A Long Table Conversation: Art, Violence, and Change
April 4 from 7 pm to 9 pm

The Institute for Women's and Gender Studies and the WAG is hosting a discussion about art, gender violence, and change. Presented in partnership also with MAWA and Ka Ni Kanichihk.  Attendance to the talk is free but does not include admission to the galleries.
A limited number of free passes will be available, on a first-come first-serve basis, on April 4, from 5 pm to 7 pm, so that those interested in attending the Conversation may view the exhibition. If you are a student who would like a free pass, please bring your student card.  Bus tickets will be available.

Testimonial Two - Day Writing Workshop
April 5 and 6 from 11 am to 5 pm

A two-day testimonial writing workshop facilitated by The Voices and Faces Project, a partner organizing of Art Works for Change.  Information please contact Anne Ream 


Off the Beaten Path: Violence, Women and Art, which runs until April 20, features the work of 30 artists, including Yoko Ono, Marina Abramovic, Mona Hatoum and Wangechi Mutu, and includes artworks across mediums: painting, photography, sculpture, multimedia, video and installation.
This exhibition contains mature content.
$8.00 to $12      Phone: 204 786 6641

It is a compelling exhibition organized through Art Works for Change.
Founder Randy Rosenberg states, The range of gender-based violence is devastating, occurring, quite literally, from womb to tomb. It occurs in every segment of society, regardless of class, ethnicity, culture, or whether the country is at peace or war.

In related news....
Pressure mounts for inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women
CBC article, March 5, 2014
Loretta Saunders slaying galvanizes actions: Blockade, vigil, social media campaign

Saudi Arabian Women Organize To Demand Rights In Advance Of International Women’s Day  CBC article, March 3, 2014
Currently, women in the kingdom are excluded from basic freedoms — they're not allowed to drive, or to travel without the consent of a male guardian.

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March 24, 6 - 8:30 PM
The Fairmont Hotel

Tickets to the event are $90 (with a tax receipt)
Payment is cash, cheque or AMEX only!
They can be picked up at the front desk.
Contact for tickets or Eric Schon (Fairmont Hotel Employee/SOS President)

Help us end childhood hunger.
Taste of the Nation brings together over 40 of Winnipeg's top restaurants & beverage companies.  We will have a fabulous selection of donated gifts for our auctions!
There will be some surprise entertainment to give the guests a night they will not forget!

Our SOS Cookbook consists of 41 of Winnipeg's top Chefs and Culinary Business Owners who donated recipes. It will retail for $30 at the event.

Share Our Strength Winnipeg is a non-profit organization working towards ending childhood hunger.  Our volunteer committee puts on two culinary events each year: Taste of the Nation - one of the best food and wine tasting events in Winnipeg and Chef's Dinner - an 8 course dinner put on by several of Winnipeg top chefs led by Takashi Murakami, C.M.

100% of fundraising is donated to charities helping to end childhood hunger:
80% goes to support breakfast and lunch programs for inner city children and fund nutrition programs, teaching low income and immigrant families how to prepare nutritional meals on a limited budget.  The remaining 20% goes to Oxfam Canada.

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March 27, 8 pm
Pantages Playhouse
Tickets for the event are available through Ticketmaster  or call 204-780-SEAT

Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy to perform at Make Music Matter, a program to support Panzi Hospital in Congo.  The fundraiser is also featuring Dr. Denis Mukwege, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, Senator Romeo Dallaire and War Child North America founder Dr. Samantha Nutt.

Sum 41's Cone McCaslin, Billy Talent's Ian D'Sa and local Congolese performers will also be featured.

Some related events in Winnipeg:

- March 26 - Special convocation ceremony at the UofW to honour Dr. Denis Mukwege.

- March 26 - 'Peace Should Not Be This Fragile' - with special guests Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean (former Governor General of Canada), Peter Frantz (Panzi Foundation USA) and Darcy Ataman

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Winnipeg music and film producer Darcy Ataman organized the fundraiser. Last year, he travelled to the African country to implement a music program that helps the victims heal.

[One woman] told me that every day she got up and made a choice, in that, do I go up and work in the mine and I know I’m going to get raped, or do I not make enough money to feed my kids for that day? 

One thing that struck Ataman about the community was the number of children there.
It dawned on me that these are the kids born in the rape. These are the kids that have not seen the outside world yet.  

Now, Ataman is trying to raise money to continue the Make Music Matter program, which encourages women to work through trauma and share their stories through music.
It’s incredible what music does in their lives.  It literally gives them a reason to get up in the morning again.

A 2011 report by the American Journal of Public Health estimated that upwards 
of 1.8 million women in Congo have been raped during their lifetimes.

Dr. Denis Mukwege’s Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Congo has treated thousands of victims of sexual violence since 1999, creating a gated community where women and families can feel safe from the social stigma surrounding rape.  The international community has awarded Dr.Mukwege numerous accolades for his work, as well as multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

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